Resilient suspension means for screen separators



June l2, 1928.

J. F. lsBELL RESILIENT SUSPENSION MENS FOR SCREEN SEPARATORS June12,1928. A 1,673,148

' J. F. ISBELL RESILIENT SUSPENSION MEANS FOR SCREEN SEPARATORS FiledJune 19. 1922 z sheets-sneer 2 Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. ISBELL. OF ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA; CLFMENTINE ISBELL, ADMINISTRA-TRIX OF SAID JOHN F. ISBELL, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OT- TO Q.BECKWORTH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; CLAUDIA I. SILVEY ADMINISTRA-TRIX 0F THE ESTATE OF SAID JOHN F. ISBELL, DECEASED. i

RESILIENT SUSPENSION MEANS FOR SCIR/EEN` SEPARATORS.

Application filed June 19, 1922.V Serial No. 569,496.

This invention pertains generally to inclined screen separators, forseparating and sizing sand, gravel, crushed rock, ores and similarmaterials; and consists of new and improved means for yieldinglysupporting the seperating screen, in a manner to greatly increase itsefficiency and capacity. n

The vibrator mechanism which I employ in connection With the screenembodying the herein disclosed invention, is shown and described in acopending application, filed on the 19th day of June, 1922, Seria-lNumber 569,495. In the aforesaid copending application the invention notonly embraces the vibrator mechanism, but also embraces its use inconnection with a yieldingly mounted separator screen; While the presentinvention is limited to the particulary construction of the screen andthe manner of yieldingly or resiliently mounting it adjacent thevibrator mechanism.

The particularobject of the present invention is the provision of ayielding mounting means for a screen separator, so that it may receiveits vibratory motion directly upon the central suspended area of thescreen, from a vibrator mechanism mounted adjacent thereto, and wherebythe vibrations so transmitted to it will not be limited to such centralsuspended area, but the resultant vibrating motion will be eifectivethroughout its entire surface, thereby adding greatly to its eiiiciencyand capacity'.

In this particular case-Iprovide a means whereby the screen may not onlybe yieldingl'y suspended, so as to be sensitive and particularlysusceptible to the transmit-ted vibrations over its entire surface, butalso so this yielding support may be adjustable to malte the screen as aWhole more or less elastic and more or less susceptible to thetransmitted vibrations. That is, so the transmitted vibrations Willresult in agitating the screen either in a series of quick, sharpvibrations of small amplitude, ora series of less frequent and largervibrations of comparatively greater amplitude. y

The details of construction and'function of my improvements are fullyset forth in the following specification, reference being made thereinto the accompanying drawings; in Which Fig. 1 isy aside elevation of myassembled separators: Fig. 2 is a plan' view thereof; Fig. 3 is alongitudinal vertical section 'ta-ken as indicated by the line 3 3 ofFig. 2; Fig. 41 is a transverse vertical section as in*- dicated by theline 1 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective vievsrof the yielding screen support; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailvievv, taken as indicated by the line 6 6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is anenlarged detail View of the adjustable clamp, taken as indicated by theline 7 7 of Fig. 6; and 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view, takenas indicated by the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

lVhile the details of construction and eperation'of my improvedvibrating mechanism are shown and described in` my aforementionedcopending application, together With a screen of the type andconstruction comprising the present invention; I Will neverthelessdescribe, in a general Way, enoughv of the details of construction andmethod of operation of that vibrating mechanism to make the operativefunction of the present screen and itsv method of suspension clearlyunderstandable.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, thescreen-generally designated by the numeral' 10 and the vibratormechanism generally designated by the numeral .11 are mounted upon amain frame 12; the latter being ordinarily supported in an inclinedposition upon suitable corner posts 13, and. cross or brace members 14.These members may be constructed of any suitable material, and While Ihave herein shown them as being constructed of Wood, they, nevertheless,can be constructed l of ymetal if desired.l Under ordinary circumstancesthe material to be separated is fed to, 'the screen (which is supportedWithin the main frame 12') over a feed chute or distributor 15, whichmay be provided with any suitable means for properly distributingmaterial across the upper receiving end of the screen. The `fines orundersized materials passing through the screen, fall into a chute 16,extending over the entire bottom of the mainframe 12, from which theymay gravitate to a suitable receptacle, as shovvn4 at 17. The overframe`and having their ends supported ,inv

bearing blocks 23 and 24.` The upper blocks 23 are simple bearingblocks, while the 'lower blocks 24 ,are in the nature of pillow blocks,

having removable tops24a secured in place by cap screws 25. This is topermit the rais ing ofthe vibrator mechanism and screen from theposition shown in solid lines in lfig. l,.to thatl shown in dottedlines, for the purpose of'replacing or repairing the screen; and insuoli instance the upper tubular sup-k porting member 22, rotating inits bearing blocks 23, serves as a fulcrum, Cap screws 2G inthe topsofthe bearing blocks 23 and 24 serve to hold the tubular supportingmeinbers 22 against, axial movement therein; these, however, may beloosened when itpis desired tovraise the mechanism as justdescribed.

, The vibrator mechanism is carried directly uopn the,4 members 22v bymea-ns of a pair of parallel frame members, generally designated by thenumeral 27. These are identical and each consistsof base supportingmembers 28, and standards 29, formed eithery integral or separable asdesired. In the present-'case I have shown them to .be formed'integral.The base members 28 eX- tend longitudinallyv across the screen and areadjust-ably supported upon the members 22 by means of split bearingclamps 30, formed integral with their ends.` The bearing clamps 30 areclamped about t-lie ltubular members 22 in theV usual manner, as bymeans ofy bolts 3l extending through suitably formed lugs orearsft'hereon. In this manner the frame members27 are madelongitudinally adjustable upon the supports 22,

so thatV the distance betweenl them may be` varied or their positionsmay be altered relative .to the surface of the` screen 10.` Theystandards 29A each consists ofA a pair of .legs 29? extending upwardlyfrom the base inem.- bers 28; these legsv being joined intermediatetheirwends by an integral transverse brace member 32, and at their topends by a removable cap 33 secured in place by cap screws 34. Bearingblocks k35 are mounted between thecontinguous faces of the `legs 29a,intermediate the transverse braces 32 and removable caps 33; theseblocks having channels in their vertical edges to engage the sides ofthelegs to hold them against translscrewsBG, extending loosely throughcentral bores 33a in the-caps 33, and screw-threadedly engaginginternally screw-threadedbores -37 yin the tops of the blocks." "Locknuts 38 hold the screws 3G Lagainst axial movement in the bores 33a.vThus by rotation of screws 3G, blocks 35 may be vertically adjustedbetween the legs 29a.

Ar transverse shaft 39 is revolubly journaled in suitable bearings inthe blocks 35; and a bolt pulley 40 is keyed to it intermedi atetheframe members 27; a pair of spacer blocks 41 being similarly fixed tothe shaft on either side of the pulley 40 to maintain it inits `centralposition. A drive pulley 42 is keyed to the outer end of the shaft 39;and a pulley 43 is loosely mounted on the outer end of this shaft towhich the drive belt 44 may be shifted when it is desired to put thevibrator mechanism out of operation.` The drive belt 44 may vbe operatedfrom anysuitable source of motive power.

A rocker arm-generally designated by the numeral 45-hereinafter termed ithe F vibrator beam is rigidly mounted upon a rock shaft' 46 by means ofa central split bearing 47; each end of jthisshaft :being journaled insuitable bearings 48 inthe suppor-ting members 28 of frame members 27.'lllieyil'iratofr` bea-m 45 consists of a pair of coplanar arms 49extending outwardly from opposite vsides of the'split4 bearing 47,atright angles to its `axis and in alignment with each other;terminating at their outer ends in tubular hammer members 50 havingcentral bores extending at substantially right angles to the plane ofthe coplanar arms 49, as shown` in F ig. 3.V .A1 pair ofarins 52,preferably formed integral with the bearing 47, extend upwardlytherefrom in spaced relation, and at substantially an angle ofv 90o withthe arms 49. A belt pulley 53 is vrevolubly mounted upon a shaft 54,carri-edin suitable bearings in the upper endsof the arms 52; thispulley 5.3 being driven from the pulley 40 by means of a belt The pulley53 is, unbalanced by vweights 56 being secured to it eccentrically, so'that. during vits rotation these weights will have av tendency'to throwit oil vcenter and Iiiiipait an oscillatory inotion `to the vibratorbeam, as4 indicatedby the arrows in Fig. 3. p

A cushioning adjustment provided iiiterinediate the vibrator beam andthe frame members 27, by iii-cans of studs or pins 59 carried upon theupper edges'of the arms 49, on either side of and equi'distant from thelshaft .46; `these studs extending through apertures in bridge members 58carried upon and between the frame members 27 g and having helicalsprings 59"L surrounding them and confined between the bridge members 58and adjust-ing nuts 60 on their upper vthrough the webs.

ends. By adjusting the compression of the springs 59, by rotation of thenuts upon the upper ends of studs 57, the oscillatory motion of thevibrator beam 45 may be cushioned to vary the force of the vibratoryimpact-s transmitted to the screen l0.

lt may be here noted that vertical adjustnent of the bearing blocks uponthe standards 29 will adjust the tension of the drivebelt intermediatepulleys l() and 53,'which will also have a cushioning eilect upon theoscillatory motion transmitted to the vibrator beam by rotation of theunbalanced pulley 53. In all cases the tension of the belt will be suchas to permit this oscillatory movement, and it may be so adjusted yrelative positioning of the pulley 40 as to have little or no limitingeffect upon the motion of the vibrator beam, or as to have thecushioning effect, to limit this motion, above described.

The construction of the screen l0 is as follows :l

A pair of longitudinal side rails 6l, extend between and parallel withthe-longitudinal side frame members 20, and the screen fabric issupported upon and between these rails, with its top and bottom edgesopen or unobstructed to receive and discharge the materials. The siderails 6l are preferably constructed of channel irons 62, mounted withtheir web faces inwardly toward each other and their channel facesoutwardly, as shown in Figs. Il and 6. The screen fabric is stretchedtaut across and between the bottom flanges of the channels 62,

and thence brought around their outer edges and into the channels; beingthus held in place by means of wedged blocxs 63 secured in the channelsby bolts Gil extending lt will be noted that the wedge blocks 63 havetapered top and bottom edges to conform to the inner inclined faces ofthe channel flanges. In this manner the screen fabric 62 is held tightlyclamped upon the channels 63, and this means is also effective indrawing the .screen taut when a light or line mesh screen is used. T herails 6l are braced and held rigidly in spaced relation b v means oftransverse brace rods 66; these rods being secured to the rails by meansof base blocks 67. These blocks have flanges through which the bolts 65may extend, and the rods 66 have a screwthreaded connection with them,so that this means may also be utilized for spreading the rails 61 fordrawing the screen fabric 62 taut. Reinforcing members 68 extendtransversely between the side rails 6l. along and beneath the top andbottom edges of the screen fabric 62. These reinforcing members may bemade on angle iron, of suitable size, secured at each end to the rails6l by bolts 69. rlhe screen fabric 62 is secured to the reinforcingmembers 68 by suitable bolts 70; these bolts having round headsprotruding above the screen sur-face to otter as little obstruction aspossible to the material passing over it. A resilient member 7l extendslongitudinally beneath the screen fabric 62, being secured at each endto the reinforcing members 68, as by means of bolts 72. This member ispreferably constructed of resilient flat metal, such as spring steel,and extends in a plane directly beneath and in alignment with thevibrator beam Ll5. I will shortly explain the function of the member 7l.

The screen l0 is yieldingly suspended from the supporting members 22, bymeans of hangers 73 hingedly connected at their upper ends to the outerends of resilient supporting bars 74; the vlatter being adj ustablysecured to the members 22 by means of clamps 7 5. The hingedconnection'between the hangers 78 and supporting bar 74 is clearlyillustrated in Fig. 5, and is preferably formed as there shown; theconnection being made by a hinge pin 76, inthe form of a bolt which maybe removed to permit the removal of the screen l0 from the rest of themechanism-for vreplacement or repairs. The hangers 7 8 are preferablyformed of llat metal, as shown, and may be secured to the rails 6l,intermediate the blocks 67 and channels 63 by the bolts 65 extendingthrough suitably spaced apertures 77. This hinged connection permitslateral motion of the screen l0 relative to the main frame l2, duringoperation of the vibrating mechanism. lf desired, the hangers 78 may bereplaced by shackles or link connections.

The supporting bars74@ are preferably constructed of thin flat metal,such as spring steel; and are so mounted upon the supporting members 22that their resilient action may be varied to permit varying degrees ofvertical motion of the screen ,that is, at right angles to the plane ofthe screen fabric 62. This yielding or vibratory' motion is varied bymeans of the adjustable clamps 75, which are illustrated in detailinFigs. 6 and 7. They consist of U-bolts'7 8 adapted to extend over andembrace the tubular supporting members 22, and thence extend throughsuitable apertures 79 in clamp blocks 80; the latter having centralarcuate notches cut in their tops to embrace the opposite sides of thetubular supporting .members 22, as shown in Fig. 7. The straightportions of the U- bolts 78 thence extend through apertures 8l in clampplates 82 and receive nuts 83 on their outer ends. clamped intermediatethe blocks 80 and plates 82 and between the legs of the U-bolts;

and when the nuts 83 are tightened upon the- U-bolts the bars 74 andtubular supporting members 22 are clamped in rigid connection. Byloosening the nuts 83 the clamps 7 5 may be moved axially alongsupporting members The spring bar 74 4is niei ends 5() of the vibratorbeam 45, when the latter is in'its-iiormal ccntralposition;

that is, when the arms 49 are parallel to the' surface of the sci'eenfabric 62. Lock nuts 8G serve to hold the studs 84 in place and washersintermediate these nuts engage the screen fabric 62 to hold it down uponthe bar 7l.` The upper screw-threaded ends of studs 84 engage ininternally screw threaded bores 87 in adjusting sleeves 88; and studs89, having heads 90, likewise screw-tlireadedly engage in the -bores 87from. their opposite ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The sleeves 88are longitudinally slit inwardly from each end, onopposite sides, andprovided with clamping bolts by means of which the sleeves may be heldor clamped in ladjusted position upon the studs 84 and studs 39 may besimilarly clamped in adjusted position in the bores 87.

VIt will be seenr that the studs 89 extend loosely through the bores 51in the hammerends 50 of arms 49, so that during oscillatory movement ofthe vibrator beam the top and bottom faces of the ends will successivelyimpact against the top faces or ends of the sleeves 38 and theundersides of heads 90 upon studs 89. It will also be noted that whenthe lower face of one end 50 is impacting against the top face of one ofthe sleeves 88, the top face of the opposite end 50 will be impactingagainst the underside `ofthe head 90 of one of the studs 89. The sleeves88 and studs 89 rare made adjustable relative.

to the screen fabric 62 and the ends 50 of the vibrator beam, so thatthe spaces intermediate the opposite'ends of the ends'O and the topfaces of sleeves 88 and bottom faces of heads 90 of studs 89 will beexactly equal when the vibrator beam is in its normal central position;that is, parallel to the surface Y of the screen fabric 62.' Froin'theforegoing it is clear that this adjustment of the sleeves i 88 andvstuds 89 relative to the ends of the vibrator beam will govern the forceand amplitude of the' vibratory impacts delivered to the screen. Also,that the impacts delivered will be in the nature of impacts or blowsadministered successively to opposite faces of the screen fabric 62. Bylengthfening the distance between theunderside of heads 90 and the topfaces of the sleeves 88, the vibrations or impacts will bev lessfrequentand of greater amplitude, while by shorten-- ing this distancethe vibrations will be more rapid and intense, and of less amplitude.

In addition to the vibratory impacts thus delivered to the screen fabric62, through the medium of connections with the bar 7l, the yieldingmeans for suspending the screen l() frointhe frame, as hereinbeforedescribed, permits resultant vibration of the rails 61,.

so the entire surface of the screen fabric will be susceptible to thesetransmitted impulses, and the vibratory effect set up oven the entirescreen surface adjacent the side rails 6l as well as throughout itscentral area, thereby greatly adding to the capacity and eiiiciency ofthe screen. The adjustable suspension means for the screen 10 to eitherincrease or diminish its sensitiveness to the vibratory impulsesdelivered by the mechanism 11, permits it to be set invv accord with theseveral adjustments of the vibrating mechanism to efficiently handle agreat many different kinds and characters of materials as well asseparating them into various degrees of fineness.

Vhile I have herein shown andl described a preferred specific embodimentof my invention, and its combination with a vibrator mechanism, Inevertheless reserve the right to make such changes or modifications instructure and arrangement, as will properly come within the scope of theappended claims.

Having described. a preferred form of my invention, I claim:

l. In a screen separator, the combination ico of a screen, a yieldingsuspension member for .the screen comprising a fiat spring meinberextending fl'at side to the screen, spaced connections between saidspring member and the screen, and supporting members engaging the springmember at points spaced from the screen connections.

2. In ascreen separator, the combinationy of a frame, a screen andyielding supporting means for the screen comprising a resilient bar,spaced connections between'said bar and screen, and spacedconnectionsbetween the bar and frame also spaced from the screen connections. 3. Ina screen separator, the combination of a frame, a screen and yieldingsupporting ni'eans for the screen comprising a resilient bar, spacedconnections between the bar and screen, and spaced connections betweenthe bar and frame, also spaced from the screen connections, the lastmentioned connection beinglongitudinally movable on the bar to vary theextent it will normally vibrate.

4. A screen separator comprising a frame, ay screen, means foryieldingly supporting the screen upon the frame so it can vibratefreely, said means comprising a resilient 5. A. screen separatorcomprising a frame,y

a screen, means for yieldingly supporting the screen upon the frame so1t can vibrate freely, said means comprising a plurality of resilientmembers extending across the screen substantially parallel to itssurface, the screen being suspended upon said members by dependingconnections adjacent their ends, and connections between said resilientmembers and the frame, said connections being adjustable longitudinallyupon said members whereby the extent of their yielding movement may bevaried.

6. A screen separator comprising a frame, a screen, means to vibratesaid screen, means for yieldingly supporting the screen upon the frame,said means comprising a yielding member extending across the screen andconnected thereto at its ends, and means intermediate the ends of saidmember connecting it to the frame.

T. A screen separator comprising a frame, a screen, means for yieldinglysupporting the screen upon the frame so it can vibrate freely, saidmeans comprising a plurality of fiat resilient bars extending across thescreen substantially parallel with its surface and connected thereto attheir ends, said members being yielding in a direction perpendicular tothe screen surface, and connec tions between said bars and the frame,said connections being spaced intermediate the ends of the bars andlongitudinally adjustable thereon to Vary the extent of their yieldingmovement.

8. In a device for separating materials 'the combination of a supportingframe, a screen, means for yieldingly supporting said screen upon theframe, said means comprising a yielding member secured at its ends tothe screen, and clamping members connecting said yielding memberintermediate its ends to the frame, said clamping members beingindependently longitudinally movable on the yielding member to vary theextent of its yielding movement.

9. In a screen separator the combination of a supporting framecomprising longitudinal and transverse members, a screen, a vi bratormechanism carried by the transverse frame members adapted to delivervibrating impulses to the screen in a direction transverse to the planeof its surface, yielding members secured at each end to the screen andextending substantially parallel to the said transverse frame members,said members being yielding in a direction substantially perpendicularto the screen surface, clamp members carried by the transverse 'framemembers and engaging the yielding members intermediate their ends, thesaid clamp members being independently longi tudinally adjustable on theframe and yielding members to vary the extent of vibratory movement ofthe material supporting member.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 2nd day of June, 1922.

JOHN F. IsBnLL.

